CHANGING LIVES

Monday, We Celebrate the Feast Day of St. Vincent de Paul

Posted by Maryvale on Sep 23, 2021 8:04:08 PM

St VIncentThis coming Monday, September 27, the Maryvale family is honored to celebrate the Feast Day of St. Vincent de Paul, a Catholic priest whose life was dedicated to serving the poor. We are proud to uphold St. Vincent de Paul’s legacy in our work at Maryvale and build on the incredible history of leaders in this work at the Daughters of Charity. Expanding service to those who are most in need is essential to who we are and what we stand for at Maryvale. Our vision adheres to Catholic Social Teachings, and through our offerings, we dedicate ourselves to a world where all God’s children – no matter who they are, what they believe, or what they’ve been through – are valued, accepted, and given the opportunity to live fulfilling lives. 

 

So, how did St. Vincent de Paul become the Patron Saint of Charity? Born into a poor farming family in France in 1580, St. Vincent de Paul entered the priesthood at age 19. His style was unique and ahead of its time; St. Vincent de Paul emphasized long prayer and a foundation in meditation that became foundational to community action. In this way, people can align themselves with their own divine purpose and approach acts of service with a calm, intentional spirit. From this rich inner life, St. Vincent de Paul was an influential proponent of charity, inclusion, and care for those in need. He made the church and its teachings available to laypeople of all sorts and struck a particular affinity with women, who had previously been excluded. 

 

Vincent was particularly sensitive to laypeople who faced extreme hardship and became an advocate for providing assistance to abandoned children, prisoners, victims of disasters, refugees, and the sick. In many ways, Vincent laid the groundwork for essential public services provided by both the church and many governments in this day and age. 

 

When Vincent joined the clergy, the Catholic church had a mixed cast of characters, with a significant number of priests who were not well prepared for the priesthood or who were unfaithful to traditional values and ways of life. Plus, there were not nearly enough priests in France to service the public. During his priesthood, Vincent helped to transform the clergy. A priest’s learning, education, and retreat were designed anew by Vincent, whose work is a precursor to modern-day seminaries. 

 

Vincent is perhaps most renowned for founding the Congregation of the Mission, in which Vincent worked with other priests to take Catholic teachings throughout France, focusing their attention on poor, country folk. Within Vincent’s lifetime, the Congregation had taken root all over the world. Today, the Congregation of the Mission is known as the Vincentian Fathers and Brothers. The Vincentian priests are still active in 86 countries, with thousands of members.

 

Vincent also founded the first Confraternity of Charity, a group of wealthy women who committed to caring for the poor. This project is similar to Vincent’s collaboration with Louise de Marillac, with whom Vincent facilitated a program that served the poor with the help of country girls. By the time Vincent passed away, the Daughters of Charity had become an official community with dozens of houses; today, it is renowned as one of the world’s largest religious women’s groups. The Daughters of Charity serve the poor in schools, hospitals, social agencies, and more – and we are humbled to have two with us at Maryvale.

 

On this Feast Day, Maryvale is humbled to honor our great predecessor in acts of service and compassion. We encourage our community to reflect on the meaning of charitable acts in their lives and the practices they might embody to best serve the poorest of the poor. Consider making a donation to Maryvale in honor of St. Vincent de Paul.

Topics: Family Resource

stock-photo-morning-yoga-and-meeting-the-sun-3232349.jpg
DONATE